Harchibald on the mend

HARCHIBALD is continuing to make good progress as he recovers from surgery on a leg problem.

The seven-year-old underwent an operation last Sunday to remove a piece of birch from his off-hind pastern and trainer Noel Meade said “it would be a miracle” if the gelding were to run in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

However, Harchibald is reported to be recovering well and his County Meath handler does not expect to make a definite decision on his Cheltenham Festival chances for a few weeks yet.

“We can’t really say much more than we could at the beginning of the week,” said Meade. “It’s a case of so far so good and we are happy he is going the right way.

“It will be a couple of weeks before we can make a definite decision but I still think it would be a bit dodgy about him making it in time for the Festival.”

Meade meanwhile is expecting a big run from Cheltenham Festival hopeful Wild Passion who takes a drop in class as he lines up for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase at Naas on Sunday.

“He goes to Naas as I just felt a run might be better for him than a good school,” he said. “We just want to get him to concentrate a little bit more on his jumping.

“He ran a good race last time but we felt he just didn’t jump as well as he could so this race would be as good as giving him a school before the Irish Arkle (at Leopardstown on January 29), which is his next target.

“There’s a couple in there, McGruders Cross and Arteea, that are pretty good, but if he puts his best foot forward, he should have a good chance.”

Wild Passion is a general 16-1 chance for the Arkle Trophy at this season’s Festival.